Burial-case



(No Model.)h 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T.` C. NATIVEL.

BURIAL CASE.

No. 535,955. Patented Mar.. 19, 1895.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.V T.`G. `NATIVEL.

BURIAL CASE.

No. 535,955. Patented Mar. 19, 1895.

Nrrnn STATES THEODORE CONSTANT NATIVEL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BURIAL-CASE.

PEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,955, dated March 19, 1 895.

Application filedvDecemher 6,1894. Serial No. 530.956. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE CONSTANT NATIVEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial-Cases; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in burial cases; and its novelty Iwill be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in connection with the anneXed drawings, in which- Figure l, is a perspective' view of a burial case embodyingmyinvention. Fig. 2, is an enlarged transverse section of the same. Fig. 3, is an enlarged, vertical, longitudinal section. Fig. 4, is a perspective view of one of the end sections ot' the receptacle or body of the case. Fig. 5, is a perspective view partly broken away, illustrating the side walls which form the intermediate sections of the receptacle or body. Fig. 6, is a plan view, partly broken away, illustrating the metallic straps for strengthening the connection of the receptacle sections; and Fig. 7, is a perspective view of a shallow wooden receptacle designed to form a base for the case when it is shipped ready for useso as to reduce the liability of breakage.

In the said drawings, similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views, referring to which- A, indicates the receptacle of my iimproved burial case, which is preferably made of vitritied terracotta, although other vitreous substance which is adaptedto resist decay and the ravages of insects `may be employed. This receptacle A, comprises the end sections, B, the intermediate sections C, and the bottom D, which are designed to be xedly connected together by strong cement at the place where the case is to be used. The end and intermediate sections B, O, have their contiguous ends rabbeted as indicated by a., b, so as to break joints when they are put to gether and strengthen their connection, and they are provided on their inner sides at about the distance illustrated above their lower edges with a ledge c, upon which the bottom l), is placed and secured by cement and are also provided at their upper edges with a recess d, to receive a wooden frame E, designed for the connection of thelining F, of the case.

G, indicates the cover of the casket which is formed of the saine material as the receptacle A. This cover G, preferably comprises two end sections e, and an intermediate sectionf, and these sections which have flanges g, designed to overlap the edges of the receptacle A, and also have their` contiguous ends rabbeted as indicated by h, are designed to be connected together and to the receptacle A, by cement so as to hermetically seal the casket and thereby deter decomposition of the corpse and prevent the escape of noxious gases and exudations. One of the end sections e, of the coverl may be and preferably is provided with an opening covered by a pane of glass zT, so as to expose the remains to view, and the intermediate sectionj, may be provided (see Fig. 3,) with one or more grooves to receive the inscription usually employed; the letters F of which inscription may be formed of the same material as the cover and may be secured in the groove or grooves by cement or in any other suitable manner.

A casket formed of vitritied terra cotta or other vitreous or brittle substance is liable to break when roughly handled or subjected to shock and jar, and therefore, in order to reduce the liability of breakage-I provide the wooden base H, which is arranged within the side walls of the sections B, O, and extends slightly below the edges of the same and the infiated tube I, which is interposed between the Wooden base H, and the ledge c, and is designed to cushion the case and prevent breakage of the same in case it falls or vis roughly let down.

J, indicates a metallic frame which is arranged below `the base H, and is designed to serve the two-fold function of holding thebase H, in position and strengthening the connection of the receptacle sections B, C. This frame J, which is preferably formed of Vsheet Vmetal and is better illustrated in Fig. 6, com- IOO extend the full width of the case and the intermediate strap Z, which also extends the full width of the case and is connected to the strap j. The several straps 71;, Z, j, are provided at their ends with vertical branches m, which rest in recesses n, formed in the sides of the receptacle sections B, C, and are provided at their upper ends with diverging branches, p, and the branches m, of the straps Zt, rest over the joints of the sections B, C, as shown and serve to partially hide and strengthen the said joints. The said diverging branches p, of the straps j, 7c, Z, are connected to the receptacle sections B, C, by bolts as M, which extend through the walls of the sections and are clinched or otherwise secured; and these bolts preferably have eyes at their outer ends as shown for the connection of the coffin handles M, better illustrated in Fig. l. The handles M, while preferable are not essential, and when desired they may be omitted.

P, indicates longitudinal ribs which are formed of the sections C. rlhese ribs C, as better illustrated in Figs. 2, and 3, are arranged at about the elevation illustrated so as to strengthen the sections where the bolts M, take through, and they extend beyond the ends of the sections C, (see Fig. 3,) so as to brace and strengthen the connection between the said sections C, and the sections B.

In the practice of my invention the several sections of the receptacle A, and cover B, and the other parts of my improved burial case or casket may be and preferably are shipped separately from the place of manufacture and are connected together at the place of use to form the case or casket, illustrated in Fig. 1. The several sections and other parts of the casket may be made in several dilferent sizes and it will therefore be seen that cases or caskets of Various dimensions may be made.

A casket in which the several sections of the receptacle and cover are connected together by cement as described, will be stronger than if the receptacle and cover Were each formed in one piece, and will be thoroughly air tight, and by reason of the receptacle and its cover being formed of vitritied terra-cotta, it will be seen that it will remain intact and hermetically sealed in any kind of soil for an indeti nite period of time and will prevent contamination of the ground around the case or casket and will consequently prevent the spread of virulent and contagious diseases.

My im proved case or casket while desirable from a sanitary point of view, may be made very cheaply on account of the material employed and may consequently be placed within the reach of the very poorest.

In order that a vacuum may be created within the casket after it is sealed so as to prevent the slightest decomposition of a corpse, I provide the tube Q, better illustrated in Fig. 2, to which an air pump may be connected and which may be closed, after the air has been exhausted from the casket, by any suitable device.

XVhen it is desirable to connect the sections of the receptacle A, and its cover G, and the other parts of the case orcasket at the place of manufacture, a shallow wooden receptacle R, may be provided to receive the case when it is shipped and reduce the liability of breakage.

In some cases, a terra cotta head-rest which lnay be formed integral with the bottom D, or end section B, of the receptacle may be pro- Vided.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A burial case or casket comprising a receptacle formed of brittle or fragile material and having a bottoni, a base H, below the receptacle, a frame arranged beneath the base H, and connected to the receptacle and an indated tube interposed between the base H, and the receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A burial case or casket comprising the receptacle of brittle or fragile material having its bottom arranged above the lower edges of its side walls, the base H, arranged within the side walls of the case and beneath the bottom D, and normally depending below the lower edge of said side walls, a cushion interposed between the base H, and the bottom D, and metal straps extending beneath the base H, and connected to the receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a burial case or casket, the combination of a receptacle formed of vitrified terracotta or other brittle or fragile substance and comprising the end sections, the intermediate sections and the bottom connected together by cement or the like, and metallic straps resting over the joints of the intermediate and end sections and having diverging branches connected by bolts or the like to said sections, substantially as specified.

4. Ina burial case or casket, the combination of a receptacle formed of vitrified terracotta or other brittle or fragile substance and comprising the end sections and the intermediate sections connected together by cement or the like and the body arranged above the lower edge of said sections and connected thereto by cement or the like, the base H, arranged within the walls of the intermediate and end sections and beneath the bottom, a cushion interposed between the base and the bottom, the metallic frame arranged beneath the base H, and having vertical straps extending up the sides of the receptacle and provided with diverging branches, bolts connecting said diverging branches and the sections of the receptacles, and handles connected to said bolts, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE CONSTANT NATIVEL.

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